Charity Preview impels Detroiter pride

By Sam Logan Khaleghi, For The Macomb Daily

Saturday, January 19, 2013

It was cold in downtown Detroit, yet that didn’t stop the thousands of inches of trailing trains of gowns and high heels from ornamenting the floors of Cobo Hall. It’s 2013 and the hard work and craftsmanship of metro Detroit’s residents were well-respected and well-received among an international parade of journalists and high rollers at the Charity Preview of the North American International Auto Show. Although fountains of bubbling champagne were poured into glasses by numerous local celebrities and politicians representing Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties, the biggest names in the house this year were indeed the cars themselves.

“My favorite is the Mustang” said Bill Ford, executive chairman of Ford Motor Company, of his beloved blue oval brand; the emblem that boasts his family heritage makes it hard to pick a favorite but you can catch a spark of excitement when he says the name ... “Mustang!”

That said, alongside Mr. Ford himself, the Ford Atlas concept was arguably the next coolest guy in the room, showcasing what the future of the F-Series would take on in 2015. Let’s not forget the F-150 is the No. 1 selling truck in the United States, in addition to being one of the longest lasting trucks that is deeply rooted in this nation’s modern soil. Anyone who has ever driven through the central midwest of American can attest to spotting a Ford truck from almost every decade still running strong. The saying “Built Ford Tough” lives on.

The fresh take on Chevrolet’s 2014 Corvette Stingray procured a lot of similar comments around its arena in the form of happy whispers. The flat back rear of the car has been re-imagined with a new curvy yet apical body that is razor sharp. The seventh generation of this Detroit muscle was an amalgam of European style and modern technological revolution associated with the popular “Bumblebee-Pop”

Camaro re-boot. From the Camaro to the Corvette and even to the Malibu, it was obvious that the mechanically bred kin of the golden bow-tie brand held sharp family trait elements that let you know they all came from the same place: Downtown Motown.

“The charity preview is more than just fancy suits, high heels and long dresses,” said Rochester resident Michelle Lynne Balser. “This evening is about our citizens, and taking responsibility with our citizenship. It is truly about the needs of so many children and families who are in need, and the hope that those who have been blessed with more financial means will take action and help repair the world.”

Since 1976, this one-evening fundraiser has raised more than $87 million for Southeastern Michigan children’s charities. The Charity Preview is intended to financially benefit such children’s charities as The Children’s Center, Boy and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation and March of Dimes metro-Detroit.